Mike Lange

Mike Lange (born March 3, 1948) is an ice hockey play-by-play broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL. He is known for colorful and bizarre expressions. His common sayings are referred to as "Langeisms." Lange was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 12, 2001. One of his most notable quotes were "he beat him like a rented mule".

According to Smizik in Tales from the Pittsburgh Penguins (Sports Publishing, 2006, ISBN 10:1582611998), Lange credits a Pittsburgh mall security guard with giving him the phrase. After giving Lange directions to a location in the building, the guard gave him a piece of paper with the phrase written down on it.

Lange described the call: "I went into a place to try and get something to eat and the lady very distinctly said to me, 'The kitchen is closed!' I said, 'Wow. There's the end, that's it, you can't eat any more, you haven't got a prayer.' I said, 'That's finality, baby!'"

And ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has just left the building!

Look out, Loretta.

He's smilin' like a butcher's dog!

Shave my face with a rusty razor!

Great Balls of fire!

And you can spit-shine your shoes Pittsburgh, you're going dancing with the Lord of Lords, Lord Stanley!